Sole edge protecting device



Aug. 20, 1940. M, M CQRKERY I I 2,212,392

SOLE EDGE PROTECTING DEVICE Filed July 3, 1939 INVENTOR. Maria/1 M C orery ATTORNEY.

PatentedAug. 20, 1940 smrES Application July 3, 1939,;Serial No. 282,671

' 3 Claims. (01. 36-7-2) ;,,'r -ms n venoon relates to sole edge protecting devices forboots and shoesthe purpose being to provide new and-unique structure consisting of a molded thin elastic like strip having a beaded '5 'edgelto fit in the welt crease of the boot or shoe and havingjla'depending skirt overlying the edge of theisole andheel, to thereby prevent the stainjing o 'f th e shoefsole edge of boots or shoes by the white or other colored dressingin redressing the shoeor bootuppers or tops. v I v ltjs furtheran. object and featureof the invention to provide a thin strip of elastic material preformed substantially to the shape in outline of a shoe sole and heel portion and having a beadededge on one side to engage in the welt crease and, due to its elasticity, capable of being stretched in. placing the same on the shoe sole whereby it snugly fits in place under sufficient tension to prevent its non-intentional displace- .ment and yet readily removable.

These and other objects and novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of sole edge protecting device embodying my invention is 5 shown in the accompanying drawing in Which- Fig. 1 is an elevation showing my improved sole edge protector in place thereon.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

30 Fig. 3 is a side elevation of an alternative form of sole edge protector.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view (taken on line 4 4 of Fig. l) of the alternative form of the strip shown in Fig. 3.

5 With shoes having white or colored tops or uppers the sole edge is not stained or finished the same as the upper. When the white or col ored tops are soiled it becomes necessary to redress the same with a suitable dressing commonly 40 found on the market. Due to the diiiiculty in redressing a. shoe without staining the edge of the sole or heel it is desirable to provide a protecting device that will remain in place without attaching devices or by holding the same in 45 place by hand.

My new and improved form ofishoe edge protector, due to its being normally smaller in outline than the sole and heel of a shoe with which it is to be used, requires to be stretched more or less depending upon the size of the shoe sole to place the same thereon and normally remain in place. Therefore my improved sole protector is made of an elastic material, preferably rubber, preformed. with a bead l substantially V shaped 55 in cross section at one edge to fit in the welt oreaseand with a skirt 2 overlying the edge of.

the sole'andsurface of the heel adjacent the welt crease, asshown in Fig. 1.

The plan view of the strip is shown in Fig. 2 wherein itis seen that the strip is preformed to the outline of aboot or shoe, it having a heel portion 3, an instep portion 4 and a forward portion tl to fit about the forward 'or tread end of. the

shoefs'ole and'sides thereof adjacent the instep.

Q This form tends to cause the protector to snugl0 :ly fit in place although under tension and if the instep portion, .due to stretching of the strip in fitting the same on the shoe sole, does not closely engage the same at the instep these portions 4 'of the elastic strip may be held in place by the 1 quires to be turned 180 .degrees in respect to the tread portion and thus, due to the strip having the crossed portions 6 and l beneath the shoe instep, the strip will be caused to snugly fit the shoe sole at the instep adjacent the tread and be drawn tightly into the welt crease at the forward end of the heel.

For this manner of use the strip is formed as indicated in Fig. 3 in which the edge engaging the welt crease is on the inner'surface of the strip as indicated by the dotted lines 8 and the skirt 9 extends rearwardly and tapers toward the instep portion 6 and l on each sideas shown in Fig. 4.

The heel portion has a flange or skirt ID on the upper edge of the bead 8. Thus when the heel portion I0 is twisted 180 degrees in respect to the tread portion as shown in Fig. 3, the bead will engage in the welt crease between the upper and 40 the heel and the skirt portion will overly the heel therebelow.

In either form shown the edge of the sole and the surface of the heel adjacent the upper is shielded by the skirt portion of the device and the welt crease being practically filled with the bead no coloring matter, in applying the same to the shoe uppers, may soil the shoe sole edge or the upper surface of thesole or the heel at the welt crease. v From the foregoing description it will be evident that the device is very simple and inexpensive in construction being formed of a single piece of elastic material of a shape to secure the function described, that it isself sustaining in place against accidental displacement in the handling of the shoe in applying the dressing and that the device being of elastic material will fit the shoe or boot sole of a number of different sizes and shapes in outline, and that the various objects and features of the invention are attained by the construction described.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of use, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A protector for the purpose described comprising an elastic and stretchable rubber strip endless in form and normally of less dimension longitudinally and transversely than the outline of the sole and heel of a boot or shoe with which it is to be used, thereby requiring the same to be stretched to engage over the sole edge and heel, the said strip having a skirt portion to overlie the sole edge and a bead for engaging. in the welt crease between the shoe upper and the tread portion of the sole, the heel portion ofthe strip having a bead, and a skirt on the opposite side of the bead from that occupied by the skirt on the tread portion of the strip, thereby requiring one portion to be turned 180 degrees to position the skirt of heel portion on the same side of the spaced apart at the instep.

2. A protector for the purpose described comprising an elastic and stretchable strip of material endless in form and normally of less dimension longitudinally and transversely than the outline of a sole and heel of a boot or shoe with which it is to be used, thereby requiring *the same to be stretched to engageover the sole edge and heel, the strip having spaced skirt portions to respectively overlie the edge of the sole and side face of the heel, and further having a bead for engaging in the welt crease between the shoe upper and sole, the skirt portions being so arranged as to require the strip to be crossed between the skirt portions in application thereof bootor shoe to thereby cause the skirt portion for the bead to extend into the instep with the overlying the sole'and the surface of the heel below the welt crease, the

said sole and heel skirt portions being on op posite sides of the bead requiring the strip to be crossed at the instep substantially as and for the purpose described. V V

MARION M. CORKERY. 

